The 2026 World Cup semifinal between Argentina and England produced several memorable moments, but one of the most talked-about after the final whistle had nothing to do with a goal, a decisive play, or their historic rivalry.
Hours after Argentina secured its spot in the 2026 World Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Thomas Tuchel’s team, a gesture by Declan Rice came to light—one he repeated three times and that could have resulted in a red card.
Rice’s gesture toward Messi and Argentina sparks controversy
Amid the match, there were several instances where tempers flared, leading to shoving and verbal exchanges.
England vs. Argentina fans clash outside stadium as police rush in to restore order
In one of those instances, while the score was still tied at 0-0, the Arsenal midfielder was caught on camera three times covering his mouth while speaking with Lionel Messi, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister, respectively (via Fox Sports)—an action that, under the new rules implemented by FIFA, could have resulted in a red card.
The new “Prestianni Rule” mandates a direct red card for any player who deliberately covers their mouth, face, or hides behind their jersey while addressing an opponent, with the aim of preventing discriminatory, racist, or unsportsmanlike insults from going unpunished by hiding them from the cameras and the officiating crew.
According to this rule, Rice could have been sent off three times. However, the English midfielder was never penalized because none of the Argentine players—including Lionel Messi—complained about the incident to the referee, Ismail Elfath, or requested a VAR review. At the same time, Elfath himself was trying to restore order around him, so he likely didn’t see any need to review the play, since it wasn’t a scuffle between Messi and Rice.
Ultimately, Rice remained on the field and played the entire match, which ended in a victory for Argentina thanks to goals by Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez, both assisted by Messi. The team coached by Lionel Scaloni thus advanced to another World Cup final, where it will face Spain.
The match will be played this Sunday, July 19, at the New York/New Jersey Stadium at 3:00 PM ET, where the World Cup could change hands or crown a two-time champion.
Origin of the Prestianni Rule
The rule was established following the controversial UEFA Champions League match between Benfica and Real Madrid, in which Real Madrid’s Brazilian player, Vinícius Júnior, accused Argentine forward Gianluca Prestianni of uttering discriminatory insults while covering his mouth with his jersey.
Since the insult could not be clearly verified, UEFA launched an ex officio investigation and ultimately sanctioned Prestianni with a six-game suspension for homophobic conduct.
Following the incident, FIFA adopted this new regulation, under which Miguel Almirón of Paraguay and Piero Hincapié of Ecuador became the first players in World Cup history to be sent off under this rule in their matches against Turkey and Mexico, respectively.
